Improvement in flying-bridges



v 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2. D. M. PFAUTZ. FLYING BRIDGE. N0. 175,150. 5; Patented March 21,1876.

'Y ".PEI'S. PHOTO-UTHOGRAPNER. WASHINGTON. D C.

PATENT OFICE..

DANIELl M. PFAUTZ, or, PHiLADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, Assiri-Non or ONE- f THlRD HIS-.RIGHT TOLEOPOLD STERNBERGER, OF SAME PLACE.

l IMPROVEMENT IN FLYING-BRIDGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l 75.150. dated March 21, 1876; application filed 5" February 17, 1876.

To all whom it may concer-a:

Be it known that I, DANIEL M. PFAUTZ, of

Philadelphia, Pennsy1vania,'have invented certain Improvementsin' Bridges, of which the following isa specification;

My invention relates to certain improvements in that class of bridges in which the side trusses are composed of a'series of levers hinged together, so las to form what are known t as lazy-tongs, and the object of my improvements is to provide 'means-for facilitating the maneuvering of a bridge of this class. This object 'I attain in the manner which I will now proceed to describe, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l is a vertical section of niy improved bridge, with devices for operating the same, the bridge being shown in the contracted condition; Fig. 2, Sheet'2, a side View, showing l the bridge extended', andFig. -3,`Sheet 1,a sectional plan on the line 1 2, Fig. 2. i

The lattice-frames, which form the sides of the bridge when the latter isextended, are each composed of a series of levers, A A1 A2, Ste., and B B1 B2, & c.connected together in the manner shown. The first levers A and'B of each set are connected to the ends of two arms, G and B, the opposite ends of which are two shafts t i from acounter-shaft, j, through the medium of bevel-wheels 7c k and l l. The flooring of the bridge consists of a strip, X, of

.heavy canvas or other strong flexible material,

the outer endv of which is connectedto the lower ends of the outermost levers of the series which form the sides of the bridge, the inner end of the canvas flooring being wound round a shaft, m, which turns in suitable bearings, and to which motion is applied in any suitable manner, in order to wind up the sheet of fabric as the bridge is being contracted, a pawl and ratchet serving to prevent back motion of the shaft m. All the mechanism above described is lcarried by a turn-table, I, which has a central shat't adapted to suitable bearings in the foundation J, and the edge of this circular turn-table is toothed for the reception of the coils of a worm, K, carried bya shaft adapted to suitable bearings on the foundation, and arranged to be revolved by the application ot' any available power. The turn-table I is preferably supported near the edges upon anti- ,tremities, thus effecting the extension, which will continue as long as the nut a is caused to move back, a reversal of the movement of course drawing the ends of thelevers together and contracting the bridge. While the bridge is beingextended, the sheet of fabric X which forms the flooring will unroll itself' from the shaft m, but when the bridge has been extended Lto the desired extent, this shaft is operated so as to take up the slack, a pawl and ratchet retaining it in position after adjustment. When the bridge is extended, or while it is being extended, its end may be swung around laterally to any desired extent by operating the worm K and base-plate I, or may be raised and lowered through the medium of the worms h It acting upon the toothed segmental portions H of the frames E. In order to increase the lateral steadiness ofthe bridge, the side frames may be connected together at the top or bottom, or both, by sets 'of levers a'rranged in the same manner as the side levers.

The above-described bridge is well adapted to the spanning of deep and narrow ravines, rapid rivers, Ste., where ordinary bridge-building appliances are not available, and it may also be applied with advantage'in place of a gn 11g-plank to river-Steamers of too great draft to approach near the bank. My invention may also, vby a slight modification, be used as van extension-ladder or lire-escape, its univerthe bridge, and admitting of being wound on a shaft or roller at the inner end of the bridge, as specified. A

3. The combination of the bridge composed of sets of levers described, and the screw-rods for operating the same, with a turn-table, I, and intervening mechanism by which the outer end of the bridge may be raised or lowered, all substantially as set forth.

4. The pivoted frames E, having straight slotted portions F for the reception of th nuts a, and segmental-toothed portions adapted to Worms h h, all asset forth.

5. The turn-table I, adapted to bearings in the foundation J, and having teeth adapted to a worm, K, on a shaft secured to the foundation, all as specied.

In testimony whereof I hare signed my name to this specification in-the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DANIEL M. PFAUTZ.

Witnesses HARRY HowsoN, Jr., HARRY SMITH. 

